Diary Dates

SPCA Cupcake Day is Monday 30th August, and all funds raised will be donated directly to local SPCAs around New Zealand.

Register here to become a Cupcake Cook. Then all that’s left to do is bake up a storm and sell cupcakes to everyone you know! It’s up to you what you charge, and all money raised is to be donated to your local SPCA.

This is a great opportunity to get behind a fantastic cause and have fun at the same time. The SPCA would like to remind everyone involved to select either barn or free-range eggs though when baking their cupcakes 

So register now and bake for the 30th August! Or if you're not so into the baking, click here to find out where to purchase cupcakes next monday.

The SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) is a special organisation dedicated entirely to helping unwanted and abused animals. If you’re looking for a new pet, don’t forget to visit your local SPCA, in case the perfect kitten, cat, puppy or dog is there waiting for you to adopt it!

A quick google search will find you loads of cupcake recipes and decorating ideas. We're loving the pink and white icing swirls, the recipe for which can be found on the Our Kitchen blog.

Cupcakes from Our Kitchen blog

There's no better town hall to be in this weekend when New World Beervana opens its doors on Friday in Wellington. Following on from the ever growing Liquorland BrewNZ Beer Awards, Beervana showcases the wares of over 45 premium Craft Brewers under one roof. Upon arrival you'll receive your tasting glass and tasting notes...then you'll have up to 175 tasty brews to choose from. Craft brewing is giving beer some upward mobility right now so if you're wanting to really school yourself there are seminars in Beer and Food matching with Martin Bosley and Neil Miller, Women and Beer featuring beer diva Kirrily Waldhorn, cheese matching, chocolate matching, and international brewers from afar including US craft brewer extraordinaire Sam Calagione from Dogfish Head with a Discovery Channel documentary crew in tow.
Top notch day with top notch people.

Wellington Town Hall

- Session 1 - Friday 27th August  12-4pm
- Session 2 - Friday 27th August  5-9pm
- Session 3 - Saturday 28th August  12-4pm
- Session 4 - Saturday 28th August   5-9pm

Tickets $30 through Ticketek only

Images courtesy brewersguild.org.nz

Infill
26 June - 8 August

The Suter Art Gallery in Nelson is currently playing host to a stunning exhibition by the SubART Collective - Emma Febvre-Richards, Kate Linzey, Vanessa Crowe, Wendy Neale, Lilian Mutsaers and Genevieve Packer - that interrogates the terrain between fine art and design.

Heads and Tails Repeat by Genevieve Packer and Landskab by Emma Febvre-Richards.

Top Drawers by Wendy Neale.

Arrival by Lilian Mutsaers.

Infill investigates the contemporary suburban experience with individuals pieces of work forming a body that explores the desire to control and contain our environment, as well as the need to cultivate a sense of place and belonging.

The Fair Trade Fortnight is on (1-16 May) and now is the time to get in behind Trade Aid as they aim to highlight the positive impact that fair trade is having on women working in developing communities; and show Kiwis how they can help empower women to improve their lives. Supporting this cause is easy!

With Mother's Day coming (9 May) this is the perfect time to buy fair trade with a gift for Mum from Trade Aid, as seen above they have a great range of homewares and accessories to suit every Mum. Or get involved in the Fair Trade Fortnight by going along to the various activities taking place at Trade Aid’s nationwide stores during the fortnight, check out what is happening here.

And don't forget World Fair Trade Day this Saturday 8 May.

 

With Mother's Day fast approaching what better way to spoil Mum than with an afternoon tea. Around the country there are numerous places that offer a traditional 'High Tea' of dainty sandwiches, china tea-cups and mini cakes. We're loving The Signature Afternoon Tea at The Langham in Auckland where they serve a three-tiered platter of exquisitely prepared sandwiches, petit scones, cakes and delicacies, along with a range of exotic teas and fine coffees (as seen above).

Or try getting busy in the kitchen and whip up your own delights at home! The tradition of afternoon tea dates back many-a-year and it was said that "an Englishman would interrupt a war to have his afternoon tea"; so for the perfect Mother's Day gift why not invest in quality time and a good cup of tea with Mum.

Our favourite recipes for traditional home baking are those colleced by Alexa Johnston in her Ladies, a Plate: Traditional home baking books. Last year we were lucking enough to visit Alexa in her home where she shared some of her favourite recipes for afternoon tea with us, a couple of which were for the most amazing sandwiches. Click here for Alexa's recipes for Mock Crab and Lettuce Alone Honeymoon Sandwiches, or visit the Ladies a Plate site for more classic home baking ideas for an afternoon tea with mum.

With the bidding wars for celebrity coffee dates over a fairtrade brew closed, don't feel that your chance to change the world one cup of a time is over. From May 1 - 16 Oxfam are running their annual Biggest Coffee Break campaign to help struggling coffee growers work their way out of poverty. 

It's a fun, easy way to raise money for a good cause and the perfect excuse to get together with friends, or in our case the opportunity for an office bake off! Simply sign up here to host a coffee break and Oxfam will send you everything you need!

All proceeds from the Coffee Breaks go towards Oxfam’s work in the Pacific, East Asia and Africa, supporting people to access safe water and sanitation, to build a sustainable livelihood, to provide education and healthcare for their children, and to live free from persecution and violence.

With Earth Hour only days away, now is the perfect time to get planning on how you will be spending your Saturday evening in support.
In 2009 hundreds of millions of people around the would showed their support by turning off their lights for one hour. And Earth Hour 2010 is set to be the biggest supported Earth Hour event since it's conception in Sydney, Australia in 2007. It is a global call to action to every individual, business and community to stand up, show leadership and be responsible for our future.

With online interactive ways to 'prepare' yourself for Earth Hour is it all about getting involved! The virtual Light Switch which can be flicked off on the offical facebook fan page allows you to pick your ideal light switch and wall for a practice run of turning a light off; while the global homepage for Earth Hour gives you the chance to make a virtual lantern.
Saturday evening is the perfect time to gather some friends at home, serve beautiful food and consume great wine. Just make sure you time your meal to be cooked and on the table for a candlelit dinning experience at 8:30pm! It's only for an hour, so what have you got to lose?
Switch off and show your support - Saturday 27 March 8:30pm.

Christchurch is hosting the first weekend of The Food Show for the year, with wide and wonderful range of exhibitors will ensure that every taste bud, and dietary requirement is fulfilled! Over the three day event you can visit the wide range of exhibitors to sample the latest in culinary delights. Not only that, but with a top line up of Celebrity Chefs showcasing their skills in the Electrolux Cooking Theatre, and stands of helpful kitchen accessories you will leave with all the inspiration you need to cook up a storm!

We're looking forward to hearing Peta Mathais demonstrate recipes from her culinary escape in Marakesh, Morocco!
 

Local fashion house WORLD is supporting the Muscular Dystrophy’s Association (MDA) 2010 Bow Tie Campaign held 20 - 28th February, by designing a limited edition bow tie and a bow tie pin. The exclusively designed bow tie pin will be available in all WORLD stores, as well as ASB branches nationwide for a $2.00 donation during bow tie week.

Muscular Dystrophy Association Managing Director, Chris Higgins says, “We use the bow tie symbol to represent the many difficulties people with a neuromuscular conditions face each day.  It has been wonderful to have our Patron Judy Bailey front the campaign and to partner with WORLD for the 2010 Bow Tie Campaign.”

To make a donation click here.


 

If you are in the Wellington region and have a penchant for New Zealand's modern architecture, get down to Long Live the Modern at TheNewDowse quick smart. Lower Hutt Civil buildings designed by Ron Muston and Keith Cook are profiled, along with other projects by some of NZ's best known and innovative modernist architects.
Curated by Auckland University lecturers Julia Gatley and Bill McKay, Long Live the Modern in Lower Hutt is free entry and runs 30 January - 04 April 2010. 

And if you're active enthusiast, make sure you sign up for the Long Live The Modern Bus Tours with Julia Gatley (curator and editor of the book by the same name) as tour guide in Lower Hutt and Wellington on 13 - 14 March respectively.